Visas

One day after the European Commission proposed that temporary border controls inside the European Union's free-travel zone be extended for up to three years during a crisis, EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said that the Schengen area, where passport checks are normally not required, must be protected at all costs.

The European Commission said on Wednesday it is "high time" that Bulgaria and Romania become full members of the Schengen area and urged the Council of the EU to take the necessary actions in this regard, SeeNews reported.

France and Germany have called for the right to reintroduce border controls within the passport-free Schengen zone for as long as four years in the face of the continuing threat of terrorism, according to the Guardian. 

Austria, France, Germany, Denmark and Norway have called on Brussels to extend the length of time members of the passport-free Schengen area can reintroduce border controls from two to four years.

Romania and Bulgaria have finally been granted permission to join the Schengen Area paving he way for citizens to move freely throughout the bloc.

EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker made the announcement in his state of the union address on Wednesday.

He said: "It is high time to bring Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Area.

Zaytung, the Turkish version of The Onion, wrote that "Greece declared a state of emergency," following the decision of the Turkish government to extend the Feast of Sacrifice holiday to 10 days due to start this Saturday.

Washington will halt the issuance of all non-immigrant visas in Russia for nine days from Aug. 23 and will thereafter reduce visa operations, the United States embassy in Moscow said Aug. 21, citing the "Russian government-imposed cap" on its staff levels.

Greece has submitted a request, the second in the last four months, to be exempt from the obligation of enforcing systematic checks on its borders, Kathimerini understands.

Visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to Europe would make a big contribution to improving bilateral relations between Ankara and Budapest, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said during a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Victor Orban in Ankara

Officials from Turkey and the European Union will meet June 13 in Brussels for a political dialogue meeting to review the current status of issues on their mutual agenda and to discuss ways of moving forward after a period of tension.

The discussions will set the stage for higher-level gatherings at the ministerial level for political, energy, and economy dialogue meetings.